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Peter Chang
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R. Lopez

D.C. Cheap Eats 2015: 20 New Dishes Under $10, Mapped

The best new options in affordable cuisine in the D.C. area.

by Eater Staff
View as Map
Peter Chang
| R. Lopez
by Eater Staff

When it comes to D.C. area cheap eats, many people can name the standards: a bowl at Pho 75, a banh mi from D.C. sandwich, some pupusas from...anywhere. But are D.C.'s hottest and newest restaurants delivering when it comes to affordable cuisine.

Here are 20 new affordable eats worth checking out in a variety of neighborhoods around town, all priced under $10. Give each of them a try when it's not a good day to spend half a paycheck. Another idea: visit new locations of existing restaurants for further affordable options, including Bonchon (now in Navy Yard), the Rosslyn Wiseguys and the Atlas District Ben's Chili Bowl.

—Missy Frederick and Meredith Bethune

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Arepa Zone

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This hot new food truck dishes up a jamon and queso arepa for $6.50.

Moving Target (Check Twitter for current location), Arlington, VA

B-Side

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[Photo: Missy Frederick]

8297 Glass Alley, Ste. 110, Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 676-3550
(703) 676-3550

Bar Civita

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[Photo: R. Lopez]

2609 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 588-1211
(202) 588-1211

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Beefsteak

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[Photo: R. Lopez]

800 22nd St NW, Washington, D.C. 20052
(202) 296-1421
(202) 296-1421

Also featured in:

Bethesda Barbecue Company

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[Photo: Facebook]

4917 Elm St, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 718-0550
(301) 718-0550

BKK Cookshop

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[Photo: Facebook]

1700 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 791-0592
(202) 791-0592

Also featured in:

BUL

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[Photo: Official]

2431 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 733-3921
(202) 733-3921

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Buredo

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[Photo: Facebook]

825 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 733-4411
(202) 733-4411

Also featured in:

Chuy's Fairfax

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[Photo: R. Lopez]

11219 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 364-5933
(703) 364-5933

Also featured in:

Duck Donuts

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Outer Banks favorite Duck Donuts has been making its mark on Northern Virginia, with new locations in Fairfax and Herndon (Arlington is next). A half dozen fresh doughnuts from these guys costs $6.75.

300 Elden St Ste A, Herndon, VA 20170
(571) 297-2298
(571) 297-2298

El Camino

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[Photo: R. Lopez]

108 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(613) 422-2800
(613) 422-2800

Also featured in:

Maketto

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[Photo: R. Lopez]

    Search for reservations
  • Capital One Dining
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1351 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 838-9972
(202) 838-9972

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Maki Shop

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[Photo: Facebook]

1522 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 545-6333
(202) 545-6333

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Melt Shop

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[Photo: R. Lopez]

1901 L St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 794-8400
(202) 794-8400

Also featured in:

Peter Chang

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[Photo: R. Lopez]

2503E N Harrison St, Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 538-6688
(703) 538-6688

Also featured in:

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Provision No. 14

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[Photo: R. Lopez]

2100 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 827-4530
(202) 827-4530

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Rito Loco

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The beloved food truck now has a brick and mortar restaurant, serving a Rito Bowl for $9.

606 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(703) 626-3212
(703) 626-3212

Also featured in:

SpinFire

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[Photo: Official]

1501 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 243-3000
(703) 243-3000

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The Big Stick

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[Photo: R. Lopez]

20 M St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 750-7724
(202) 750-7724

Also featured in:

Thip Khao

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Columbia Heights residents have figured out it isn't too pricey to be a regular at this Lao restaurant. Chicken hearts are $6, crispy tofu with honey is $7 and many vegetarian mains are $9.

3462 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

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Arepa Zone

Moving Target (Check Twitter for current location), Arlington, VA

This hot new food truck dishes up a jamon and queso arepa for $6.50.

Moving Target (Check Twitter for current location), Arlington, VA

B-Side

8297 Glass Alley, Ste. 110, Fairfax, VA 22031

[Photo: Missy Frederick]

8297 Glass Alley, Ste. 110, Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 676-3550
(703) 676-3550

Bar Civita

2609 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

[Photo: R. Lopez]

2609 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 588-1211
(202) 588-1211

Beefsteak

800 22nd St NW, Washington, D.C. 20052

[Photo: R. Lopez]

800 22nd St NW, Washington, D.C. 20052
(202) 296-1421
(202) 296-1421

Bethesda Barbecue Company

4917 Elm St, Bethesda, MD 20814

[Photo: Facebook]

4917 Elm St, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 718-0550
(301) 718-0550

BKK Cookshop

1700 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

[Photo: Facebook]

1700 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 791-0592
(202) 791-0592

BUL

2431 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

[Photo: Official]

2431 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 733-3921
(202) 733-3921

Buredo

825 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

[Photo: Facebook]

825 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 733-4411
(202) 733-4411

Chuy's Fairfax

11219 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22030

[Photo: R. Lopez]

11219 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 364-5933
(703) 364-5933

Duck Donuts

300 Elden St Ste A, Herndon, VA 20170

Outer Banks favorite Duck Donuts has been making its mark on Northern Virginia, with new locations in Fairfax and Herndon (Arlington is next). A half dozen fresh doughnuts from these guys costs $6.75.

300 Elden St Ste A, Herndon, VA 20170
(571) 297-2298
(571) 297-2298

El Camino

108 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

[Photo: R. Lopez]

108 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(613) 422-2800
(613) 422-2800

Maketto

1351 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

[Photo: R. Lopez]

1351 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 838-9972
(202) 838-9972

Maki Shop

1522 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

[Photo: Facebook]

1522 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 545-6333
(202) 545-6333

Melt Shop

1901 L St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

[Photo: R. Lopez]

1901 L St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 794-8400
(202) 794-8400

Peter Chang

2503E N Harrison St, Arlington, VA 22207

[Photo: R. Lopez]

2503E N Harrison St, Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 538-6688
(703) 538-6688

Related Maps

Provision No. 14

2100 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

[Photo: R. Lopez]

2100 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 827-4530
(202) 827-4530

Rito Loco

606 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

The beloved food truck now has a brick and mortar restaurant, serving a Rito Bowl for $9.

606 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(703) 626-3212
(703) 626-3212

SpinFire

1501 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209

[Photo: Official]

1501 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 243-3000
(703) 243-3000

The Big Stick

20 M St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

[Photo: R. Lopez]

20 M St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 750-7724
(202) 750-7724

Thip Khao

3462 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Columbia Heights residents have figured out it isn't too pricey to be a regular at this Lao restaurant. Chicken hearts are $6, crispy tofu with honey is $7 and many vegetarian mains are $9.

3462 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

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